Biological hazards animals and insects

Biological hazards Animals and insects are living organisms that can cause harm to humans or animals. Some biological hazards include bacteria, fungi or viruses that cause infections, toxins from moulds and plants and venom from insects and other animals. Today in this blog we will only cover health effects and control measures for animals and insects that severity from minor irritation to life-threatening illness.

Be aware of the risks of working with animals or insects. Some animals and insects carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Report any animal or insect bites or stings to your supervisor safety personnel or healthcare provider. This is important even if you do not experience any symptoms, as some diseases can have a delayed onset.

Follow the safety guidelines that are in place for Biological hazards Animals and insects in your workplace. These guidelines may include specific requirements for PPE, vaccination and disposal of waste.

How can you protect yourself from biological hazards animals and insects tips?

The Occupational Risk Prevention of any organization prepared to promote the safety and health of the workers must be applied through protection and prevention measures that avoid the consequences of harm from animals and insects. Although we will now identify some of the most significant and relevant risks, related to Biological hazards Animals and insects. Some ways to protect yourself from Biological hazards Animals and insects are:

• Avoid wild or stray animals: Call local authorities to handle them. Secure all food sources and remove any animal carcasses.
• Protect yourself from mosquitoes by using EPA-registered insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and taking steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.
• To avoid attracting rodents, remove potential sources of food, water, and shelter such as garbage, dirty dishes, and debris.
• Be aware of snakes that may be swimming in the water to get to higher ground and those that may be hiding under debris or other objects.  If you or someone you know is bitten, try to see and remember the colour and shape of the snake, which can help with the treatment of the snake bite.
• Be careful of venomous spiders, scorpions, and stinging insects that can be found in various geographic regions. If you have allergies to these animals, seek medical attention immediately if you are stung or bitten.
• Avoid contact with poisonous plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac. Wear gloves, long sleeves, and pants when working outdoors. Wash your skin and clothes thoroughly after exposure.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes gloves, long sleeves, pants, closed-toe shoes, and a face mask or respirator if you are working with animals or insects that may carry diseases.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. This is especially important after handling animals or insects, or after coming into contact with their droppings or fluids.
• Avoid contact with wild or stray animals. If you must interact with an animal, use caution and do not touch it if it is injured or appears to be sick.
• Get vaccinated against common animal-borne diseases, such as rabies, tetanus, and Lyme disease.
• Keep your home and yard clean and free of debris. This will help to discourage rodents and other pests from taking up residence.
• Dispose of garbage and animal waste properly. This will help to prevent the spread of disease-causing organisms.
• If you are bitten or scratched by an animal and the wound is deep, seek medical attention immediately.

Have Personal Protection Equipment

Masks against FFP2 or FFP3 particulate matter, according to EN 149, in those operations where inhalation of bioaerosols may occur (cleaning of excrement, cleaning with pressurized water, dusty environments, etc.).

Protective goggles, according to EN 166, in those operations that may cause splashes of animal fluids into the eyes (veterinary work, delivery care, etc.).

Protective gloves against chemical products and microorganisms, according to  EN 374, in those tasks in contact with animal fluids (wound care, childbirth care, etc.). Protective gloves against mechanical risks, according to  EN 388, in those tasks.

Protective clothing, according to EN 14126, in those tasks where you work with sick animals or where there may be large splashes of animal fluids (work in animal experimentation laboratories, attention to deliveries on farms, etc.).

What is a biological risk assessment?

Biological hazards animals and insects risk assessment consists of collecting information to identify the biological agents potentially present in the workplace and to estimate the exposure and the seriousness of the consequences or damages of said exposure during the performance of the work. The main information that must be collected to carry out the evaluation is related to:

Working conditions: information on the conditions of the workplace (humidity, temperature, availability of nutrients, presence of hosts or vectors), the characteristics of the process and/or tasks (raw materials used, possibility of bioaerosols, splashes, cuts, punctures, duration, etc.). This information will make it possible to determine the possible presence of the biological agent in the activity and assess whether its chain of transmission can fully materialize under such conditions.

The chain of transmission or infection consists of the sequence of steps that the biological agent has to follow to cause a disease or infection in the worker and includes: multiplication and dispersion in the work environment and contact between the agent and the worker.

The characteristics of the biological agents: present or potentially present in the activity; information that allows establishing its chain of transmission or infection and its virulence or dangerousness.

The characteristics and conditions of the worker: information about his education and training for the position, and information about his biological and health status (particularly sensitive worker, immunized or not against the biological agent to which he is exposed, pregnancy, etc. ).

Biosafety is the set of measures for the prevention and control of Biological hazards animals and insects in the workplace involving the handling of potentially infectious agents or patients. Its objective is to avoid the release of biological agents inside and outside the workplace and to protect the worker.  This set of measures includes:

• The monitoring of appropriate techniques, procedures or work standards.
• The physical containment or isolation of the pathogen through the use of isolation or safety equipment (primary containment) and the proper design and construction of workplace facilities (secondary containment).
• The training of personnel in following the appropriate practices or work standards and in the correct use and maintenance of the equipment and the installation.

What are biological hazards animals?

Do you know what risks working with animals can entail? What preventive measures should we adopt? Our specialists explain how to work with animals safely to avoid accidents. When we talk about animals, we initially think of those adorable companions that are part of the family, in the domestic sphere.

But if we look through a broader prism, many more animals surround us and intervene in our lives. Thus we have animals from the livestock sector as a source of food and raw materials, animals in zoos, and all those that remain free in their natural habitat.

The close relationship between humans and animals requires us to achieve a balanced benefit, and for this, among many other things, it is vital to know their risk factors to eliminate or minimize them. Animals are transmitters of diseases, naturally, to man and vice versa. These types of diseases shared by animals and humans are called Zoonosis (from the Greek zoo, animal and noise, disease).

The majority of work activities with animals would be included, when assessing biological risks, between activities where there is no deliberate intention to use or manipulate biological agents (contact with animals or products of animal origin) and potential exposure, therefore, is incidental to the primary purpose of the activity being performed.

The biological agents to which personnel working with animals may be exposed will depend on the animal species with which they work, the conditions of the workplaces where the activity is carried out, the care that is given to these animals and the activities carried out with them.

How can we protect ourselves from animal?

Another aspect to take into account is the safety in handling and direct interaction with the animals since the response of the animals can be infinitely varied, and in some cases very dangerous. When handling and in contact with animals, your guard should never be lowered, because of the possibility of attack, inoculation, etc. They are present as a non-eliminable risk and must be controlled to minimize them.

Although observing changes in the behaviour and mood of animals can alert us, they do not always show signs that are easily interpretable by humans. These states can be altered by a combination of visible and invisible stimuli (such as season of the year, length of day, time of day, sexual cycles, breeding periods, barometric pressure, and high-frequency noise). frequency, the environment and its conditions, etc.).

• Keep animals in the best possible conditions in work environments.
• Have sufficient sanitary facilities (washbasins, showers, changing rooms, eyewash products and skin antiseptics).
• Have specific procedures for cleaning, and disinfection of facilities, work equipment, etc.
• Pest control procedures.
• Specific measures to prevent workers, due to the tasks they perform, from suffering cuts, punctures, scratches, and bites.
• Have written instructions in the workplace that contemplate action in the event of an accident or incident that may involve exposure to biological agents.
• Rules that prohibit eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, as well as handling contact lenses in work areas.
• Have, within the working day, 10 minutes before lunch and another 10 minutes before leaving work, for personal hygiene. Hand washing even after wearing gloves.
• Have established a procedure for cleaning and disinfection of work clothes.
• Have a system that prevents mixing work clothes with street clothes.
• Training and information on risks and their preventive measures

What can you do to prevent a dog from biting?

Here are some tips on how to prevent dog bites and what to do if you are bitten:

• Do not approach strange dogs. Even if a dog looks friendly, it is best to err on the side of caution and not approach it.
• Ask the owner’s permission before petting a dog. Even if you know the dog, it is still a good idea to ask permission before petting it.
• Pay attention to the dog’s body language. If a dog is showing signs of aggression, such as growling, baring its teeth, or raising its hackles, back away slowly and do not make eye contact.
• Do not pull away from a dog that is biting you. This can make the bite worse. Instead, try to stay calm and stay still.
• If you are bitten, seek medical attention immediately. Even if the bite does not seem serious, it is important to get checked out by a doctor to make sure that you do not develop an infection.

First aid:

• Wash the wound with soap and water as soon as possible.
• Apply a bandage to the wound.
• Elevate the wound if possible.
• Do not try to remove any pieces of dog teeth from the wound. This can make the wound worse.
• If the dog is known to be up-to-date on its rabies vaccination, you may not need to receive rabies treatment. Report to your first aider. Better sick medical attention.

By following these tips on Biological hazards animals and insects, you can help to prevent dog bites and keep yourself safe.

What are the biological hazards of insects?

Insects can pose a number of biological hazards to humans, including:

• Bites and stings: Some insects, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and bees, can transmit diseases through their bites or stings. These diseases can range from mild to severe, and even fatal.
• Allergies: Some people are allergic to insect bites or stings. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild itching and swelling to anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening condition.
• Ingestion: Some insects, such as cockroaches, can carry harmful bacteria or parasites. If these insects are ingested, they can cause food poisoning or other health problems.
• Inhalation: Some insects, such as dust mites, can produce allergens that can trigger asthma attacks or other respiratory problems.
  Contact: Some insects, such as bed bugs, can transmit diseases through their saliva or faeces. If these insects come into contact with your skin, you may develop a rash or other skin irritation.

How can we protect ourselves from insects?

If you have allergies to insect bites or stings, see your doctor. They may be able to prescribe medication to help you manage your allergies. To protect yourself from biological hazards posed by insects, you should take the following precautions:

• Avoid contact with insects: If you must be around insects, wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes.
• Use insect repellent: When you are outdoors, use insect repellent that contains DEET or another EPA-registered insect repellent.
• Inspect your food and water for insects: Before you eat or drink anything, check it carefully for insects or insect parts.
• Keep your home clean and free of clutter: This will help to discourage insects from taking up residence.
• Vacuum and dust regularly: This will help to remove insect allergens from your home.

How do you keep mosquitoes from biting you?

To protect yourself against Biological hazards animals and insects (diseases spread) by mosquitoes, CDC and EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent.

• Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
• When using insect repellent on your child, always follow label instructions.
• Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-3,8 diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.
• Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
• Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply it to a child’s face.
• Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
• Do not use permethrin products directly on the skin.
• Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
• Use air conditioning, if available.
• Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water.
• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.
• Check for water-holding containers both indoors and outdoors.

How to prevent venomous snake bites?

Be aware of your surroundings. Snakes are most active during the morning and evening hours, so be especially careful during these times. Shake out your boots and clothing before putting them on. Snakes may hide in shoes and clothing, so it is important to shake them out before wearing them. When you are in an area where snakes are common, wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.

• Be aware of snakes that may be swimming in the water to get to higher ground and those that may be hiding under debris or other objects.
• Try to see and remember the colour and shape of the snake, which can help with the treatment of the snake bite.
• Do not step on or over rocks. Snakes may be hiding under these objects.
• Do not swim in areas where snakes are common. Snakes may be attracted to the water.
• Keep your yard free of debris. Snakes like to hide in piles of leaves, wood, and other debris.
• Keep the bitten person still and calm. This can slow down the spread of venom if the snake is venomous.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Apply first aid if you cannot get the person to the hospital right away.

• Lay or sit the person down with the bite below the level of the heart.
• Tell them to stay calm and still.
• Wash the wound with warm soapy water immediately.
• Cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

By following these tips, you can help to prevent venomous snake bites and keep yourself safe.

Conclusion

Biological hazards Animals and insects can cause various diseases in people, ranging from mild to serious. To protect yourself from these hazards, you should follow some basic precautions, such as:

• Avoiding wild or stray animals and reporting any suspicious behaviour to local authorities.
• Protecting yourself from mosquitoes and other insects by using EPA-registered repellents and wearing long-sleeved clothing.
• Removing potential sources of food, water, and shelter for rodents and other pests, such as garbage, dirty dishes, and debris.
• Washing your hands after being around animals, even if you didn’t touch them, or after handling any potentially contaminated material.
• Properly disposing of all bio-hazards, such as gloves, masks, tissues, needles, or anything with bodily fluids.

By following these steps, you can reduce your risk of getting sick from biological hazards associated with animals and insects. Remember to seek medical attention if you develop any symptoms of a zoonotic disease, such as fever, rash, headache, or diarrhoea. Stay safe and healthy!